Daniel Radcliffe received critical acclaim, but not a Tony nomination, for "The Cripple of Inishmaan." / Walter McBride, WireImage

by Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY

by Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY

Having a household name and enthusiastic reviews did not guarantee a Tony Award nomination in this highly competitive season.

When the list of contenders was announced Tuesday morning, a number of A-list names went unmentioned: Denzel Washingfon, who received raves for his performance in a revival of A Raisin in the Sun (and had won a Tony for his previous Broadway outing, in Fences); Daniel Radcliffe, highly praised for his take on the title role in The Cripple of Inishmaan; and Michelle Williams, a Broadway newbie who charmed many critics with her Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

Others shut out included the estimable British actors Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, who pulled double duty in an acclaimed double bill of Samuel Beckett's Waiting For Godot and Harold Pinter's No Man's Land last fall.

Somewhat less surprising were the omissions of Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig, who starred in a not enthusiastically received Betrayal last fall; and James Franco, who garnered mixed reviews for his performance in the first Main Stem production of Of Mice and Men in 40 years. (Franco's co-star Chris O'Dowd was nominated.)